Column clamp



y 1933- R. R. ROEMER 1,906,721

COLUMN CLAMP Filed NOV. 1, 1929 Qwoentoz f I Ff emer Patented May 2,1933 r arr n}Ro -17.1mm,or omvrznann on o. f

' l N QL M'? Application filed November This invention relates toclamping devices used with molding apparatus and particularly relates tocolumn clainpsfor clamping molds used in theforming of concretecolsumnsf y rOneof the objects of this invention is to provide a columnclamp whichwill be cheap to construct and assemble and efiicient inoperation. 1 1 9 a Another. object .is to" provide "a column clamprequiring the minimumnumber of parts and adapted to be installed inposition on a column mold with the mini-mum number of movements: by theoperator thereof."

Another object isto provide acolumn clamp of improved construction inwhichthis clamp ing action may be effectedby the operation of drivingawedge or wedges.

Another object is to: provide a column 5 o clamp comprising two pairs ofhinged clampinggmembers adapted, to be locked together andclamped aroundthe column form with which it is adapted to be used by the simpleoperationofdriving a wedge or wedges 5 through the hinged clampelementsdirectly without the useof.anyintermediate or auxiliary appliances; Y rAnother object is to provide a' column clamp employing wedges providedwith improved means for insuring that the-wedges, whenit is desired touse them,will1bein a I preselected position convenientwto the hand ofthe operator. Y

Another object; is to-provide a column I 3 clamp unit, two of whichidentical units may be employed to constitute a clamp of the classdescribed. a e

Other objects will-be apparent to those skilled in the art to, which myinvention pertains." r "J This invention is fully disclosed in thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which Fig. lis a plan viewof acolumn clamp cmbodyinglmy inventionshowing the clamp in position around a column form, and with wedgeswhich I may employ omitted to simplifythedrawing; r I

fr gm nt y perspective view of 1-; 1929.; Serial no, 403,982;

the column clamp of Figyl' showing the Wedges in clamping position;

1 Fig.3 is a perspective view of" one of a pair of'column clamp: unitscomposing the columnclamp and showing the wedges there for: vin theposition i which they occupy preparatory to installingthe clamp on theform;

. F ig.- 4' is a: side; sectional View of .a column clamp showing theengagement ofa'wedge With other parts thereof; I

Fig; 5. is afview of one ofthe column clamp units shown in the otherfigures and collapsed V or folded, up to compact size'for transportaation; purposes; 1 5 uh a As will be understood frointhe followingdescription, vtheac'olunm clamp of my invention is generally employedinpairs of units Each oneof thesimilar clamp'units of the,

pair comprises;asingleielementl and a-double element Q hingedtogether-asat 3. The 7 single element 1 may be made from a bar-6 ofmetal,preferably.steel eprovided with two rows ofelongated perforations 4', .4and 5,5, respectively. .xTllQ series of perforationsj, 4 arestaggerediwith respect to the perforations I The double element 2-ispreferablymade from two flat bars 7 and 8 similar to the bar 6; j. The bars '7 and8 are eaohprovided with ar double row of elongated perforations 9, 9 and10,10; and the perforations 9, 9 are staggered with? respect to theperforations 1 0, '10 and/the perforations -9 and 10in the bar 7 arealignedaw'ith corresponding perforations in the bar 8 in such mannerthat a wedge or thelike, which I employ, may be inserted in one {ofthepe'rforations, say aperforation 9 and 8 and to hold them suitably inspaced relation, a block 13 is provided between the bars 6 and 8 andriveted or bolted thereto as by rivets 14, the block 13 being situatedbetween the pivot 3 and the first one of the perforations 9 or 10.

The space between the bars 6 and 8 thus provided is preferably made thesame thickness or slightly of greater thickness than the thickness ofthe bar 6, so that the latter may be folded therein between when desiredand as illustrated in Fig. 5. To facilitate compactly folding the barstogether in this manner, the block 13 is made to extend only part wayacross the width of the bars 6 and 8 between which-it lies.

In the operation of the clamp, I employ a pair of wedges 16 and 17 inconnection with each one of the pair of column clamp units. The wedges16 and 17 are each connected by a chain 18 to a carrier 19, the chains18 being connected to the Wedges16 and 17 by rings 22 linked inperforations 23 in the wedges and being connected with the carrier 19 byrings 21 linked'in perforations 20 in the carrier 19. The carrier ispreferably made of fiat metal and extends transversely through the spacebetween the bars 7 and 8 and the perforations 20 are provided in theopposite ends of the carrier 1 In the operation of my improved columnclamp, above described, a clamp unit is first picked up with the partsin position shown in Fig. 3, so that by the action of gravity the wedgecarrier slides down to the lower free end of the double element 2carrying the wedges with it. The clamp unit is then tipped up into ahorizontal plane and applied to one corner of the mold as shown in Fig.1; The

I other of the pair of column clamp units is handled in the same manner,if necessary by another operator, and as the two clamp units are thusput in position on the form, the single element 6 of each clamp unit isinserted in between the two bars 7 and 8 of the other clamp unit Thecondition of the parts thus applied to the mold is shown in Figs. 1 and2.

The operator then takes one of the wedges and places it in a suitableperforation of the single bar 6 and takes the other wedge and inserts itthrough suitable aligned perforations in the bars 7 and 8 and drivesthem home with ahammer, thus drawing the sin gle bars farther into thedouble bars and drawing the double bars farther in along the single barsand contracting the pair of clamp units tightly-around the form in amanner that will be understood. In this connection it may be observedthat the rings 22 are of large enough diameter to drop down over and toclear the large end of the wedge as shown at 24 in Fig. 2, so asnot tointerfere with the driving of the wedge by the hammer.

It will be observed that if the wedge carrier 19 is at the outer end ofthe double element 2 when the clamp is in position to be wedged intoplace, not only will the carrier 19 be out of the way when the singlebar 6 is inserted through the double bars 78 and will not interferetherewith, but also it will be outside of the space enclosed by theclamp, and it will require no attention on the part of the operator tokeep the wedges or chains or the carrier 19 itself from confusing theassembling operation. Furthermore, when it is desired to drive thewedges into the perforations, they will be convenient to the hand of theoperator.

By providing rings 21 of sufficient diameter, the carrier 19 may betrapped permanently in the space between the bars 7 and 8. In thisconnection, it is an essential feature of my invention that the carrier19 be made of suitable length between the links 21. If the links 21 betoo close together, the carrier will not slide to the end of the doubleelement 2 as above referred to, but will be wedged by the engagement ofthe rings 21 on opposite sides of the bars 7 and 8.

The carrier 19 should be of such length that when the double element 2is tipped out of vertical, and the carrier 19 slides downwardly bysliding engagement of the upper ring 21 with the bars 7 and 8, the lowerring 21 will be out of contact with the bars 7 and 8. This feature of myinvention will be understood by reference to the above description takenin connection with Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Furthermore, by sliding the carrier 19 to the extreme end of the doubleelement 2, the carrier 19 and the chains thereon, will be re.- movedsufficiently not to interfere with the nesting of the single bar in thedouble bar 1 for transportation purposes, as shown in Fig. 5.

As will be understood by providing double rows of staggeredperforations, the clamp of my invention is not only adapted torectangular column molds of various sizes, but also of various shapes;and also when used with any shape or size, the clamping force exerted bythe clamps may be gradually increased to any desired amount by drivingthe wedges farther and farther into the perforations; and also by havingstaggered perforations in the bars, a perforation may be selected forthe wedge in which it may come tight regardless of slight variations inthe size or shape of the form.

When it is desired to remove the column clamp from the mold, the wedgesmay be driven upwardly by striking the lower ends thereof with a hammerand the parts removed in the reverse order to that above described, aswill be understood.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shownand described, since my invent-ion may be embodied in other and various,structures without departing from the spirit thereof or sacrificing itsadvantages. 3

Iclaim: 1 1. Inaclamp for molds or .thelike, a: pa r of clamp units,each unit comprising a pa1r of bar elements pivotally connected togetherat one end, one of the barelementsbe1ngcom-- posed from aflat-rectangular bar and being rigidly connected to the bars and alongitudinallyranging series of staggered successively overlappingperforations in the pair of bars, the perforations in one bar 5 beingaligned with the corresponding perforations in the other bar, the singlebar of one, unit being,

adapted'to beinserted through between the two bars of the other unit. a

In a clamp device unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elementspivotally connected togetherat one ;end,'oneof the bar ele-r.

ments comprising a single bar and provided with a {plurality oflongitudinally disposed staggered successively overlapping perforations,the other bar element comprising a pair of bars rigidly connectedtogether and spaced apart at their ends opposite the pivot connec? tion.and provided with a plurality of stag-t gored successively overlappingperforations, the perforations of one barfof the palr beingaligned-withcorresponding perforations in the other bar of the pair. 7 eg 3. In a clamp device for molds or the like,

a pair of clamp units, each unit comprising.

a pair of bars pivoted together at one end, one of the barscomprising apair of longitudinal branches, each of the bars being provided with aseries of staggered successively overlapping perforations, the branchedbar having said perforations in both branchesand the perforations in onebranch registering with those of the other branch, the unbranched bar ofeach of the clamp unitsbeing adapted to be inserted between the branchesof thebranched bar of the other unitswhereby the two units may entirelyenclose a mold or the like to be clamped, and the branches of eachbranched bar being connected to-;

gether and spaced apart at their end opposite the pivot connection. a

l. In a clamp device unit for molds or the like,-a pairfof'bar elementspivotallykconnected together at one end, one of the bar elementscomprising twobranches, and each of the bar elements being provided witha series of staggered perforations, the perforations in one of thebranches of the'branched bar element being aligned with theperforationsin the other branch, a wed-gecarrier support-- ed on one of the barelements and slidable thereon longitudinally, means associated with thesaidrbar at the end opposite the'pivotal connection for preventing theremoval of thewedge carrier, and a pair of wedges flexiblyconnected' tothe wedge carrier;

- 5. In a clamp device -unit formolds 01-1 the like, a pair of barelements pivotally connected togetherat one end, one of thebarelementscomprising two branches, andieach of thebar elements beingprovided with a series of staggered perforations,"the perforations inone of the branches of the branched bar element being aligned with theperforations in the other branch, a wedge carrier having a body portio11di'sposed in the space between the two branches and freely movabletherein,

means for preventing removalof the body" member, and-a pair of wedgesflexibly connected to said Wedge carrier.

6.]In a clamp device unit for molds orthe like, a pair ,of tbarielementspivotally con-r nected together at one end,;one of the bar elementscomprising two branches, and each of the bar elements being providedwith a series of staggered perforations, the, perform" tions in one ofthe branches of the branched bar element beingialigned with theperforations 1n the other branch, the .two said branches being connectedtogether at the end of the bar'elementopposite the pivot, a wedgecarrier comprising anelongated body membervdisposed transversely ofthe-branched bar element in thespace between the branches, and .a pairof wedges flexibly connected to thebodymember. ;I

7. In a clamp device unit for molds, or the like, a pair of barelementspivotally connected together at one end, one of the bar elementsbeingcomposed from two flat rectangular bars, a spacing element betweenthe bars at the ends opposite the pivot connection, the,

bars and spacing element being rigidly connected togetheiythe other barelement being composed from a single fiat rectangular bar interposedbetween the said pairof bars at the: pivot connection. a longitudinally;disposed series of staggered perforations in the single. bar element anda longitudinally dis-, posedseries of staggered perforations ineachofthe two said bar portions, the perforations in one portion beingaligned with correspond-- ing perforations in the other portion, a wedgecarrier, comprising a body portion disposed transversely in the spacebetween thetwo spaced bars, slidable longitudinally in said space, theends of thebody portion projecting out of the said space on each side ofthe spaced bars, means on each end of the body portion-preventing theremoval of the body portion from said space and a pair-of wedgesflexiblyconnected to the wedge carrier.

8. Ina-clamp formolds or the like, a pair of clamp units, each nnitcomprising a pair of;

bar elements pivotally connected together at one end, one of the barelements being composed from a flat rectangular bar and being providedwith a longitudinally ranging series of perforations, the other barelement being composed from a pair of similar flat rectangular barsspaced apart, the said single bar being interposed between the pair ofbars at the pivot connection, a spacer between the pair of bars at theend'opposite the pivot connection and rigidly connected to the bars anda longitudinally ranging series of staggered perforations in the pair ofbars, the perforations in one bar being aligned with the corre spondingperforations in the other bar, the single bar of one unit being adaptedto be i11- serted through between the two bars of the other unit, awedge carrier associated with each of the bar elements composed ofspaced bars, each wedge carrier comprising a body portion disposedtransversely in the space between the two spaced bars, slidablelongitudinally in said space, the ends of the body portion projectingout of the said space on each side of the spaced bars, means on each endof the body portion preventing the removal of the body portion from saidspace and a pair of wedges flexibly connected to the wedge carrier.

9. In a clamp device unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elementspivotally connected together at one end, one of the bar elementscomprising two branches and each of the bar elements being provided witha series of staggered perforations, the perforations in one of thebranches of the branched bar elements being aligned with those in theother branch, and a pair of wedges either of which is adapted to beinserted through a pair of said aligned perforations and flexiblyconnected to the branched bar by connecting means movable longitudinallyon the bar.

10. In a clamp device unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elementspivotally connected together at one end, one of the bar elementscomprising two branches and each of the bar elements being provided witha series of staggered perforations, a pair of wedges and a flexibleconnection between the Wedges extending between the branches of thebranched bar and slidable longitudinally therein.

11. In a clamp device unit for molds or the like, a pair of bar elementspivotally connected together at one end, one of the bar elementscomprising a single bar provided with a plurality of longitudinallydisposed staggered successively overlapping perforations, the other barelement comprising a pair of bar portions embracing therebetween a slotextending transversely therethrough and longitudinally over a portion ofthe bar length and provided with a plurality of staggered successivelyoverlapping perforations,

the perforations of one bar portion being aligned with correspondingperforations in the other bar portion.

12. In a clamp device for molds or the like, a pair of clamp units, eachunit comprising a pair of bars pivotally connected together at one end,one of the bars being provided with a longitudinally extending slot andeach of the bars being provided with a longitudinally disposed series ofstaggered overlapping perforations, the unslotted bar of each unit beingadapted to be inserted through a slotted bar of the other unit toentirely enclose the mold to be clamped, and a' wedge adapted to bedriven into a perforation of each unslotted bar to w-edgingly engage aportion of the slotted bar and a wedge adapted to be driven into aperforation of each slotted bar to wedgingly engage a portion of eachunslotted bar to eonstrictingly clamp the mold enclosed within thedevice.

13. In a clamp device for molds or the like, a pair of clamp units, eachunit comprising a pair of bars pivotally connected together at one end,one of the bars of each unit being; provided with a longitudinal slottherein, each of the unslotted bars being provided with a longitudinallyranging series of staggered successively overlapping perforations, andthe slotted bars being provided each with two longitudinally rangingseries of aligned staggered successively overlapping perform tions, theuns'lotted bar of each unit being adapted to be inserted through aslotted bar of the other unit to thus entirely enclose a mold to beclamped, a wedge for each unslotted bar adapted to be driven through aperforation thereof to wedgingly engage a portion of the slotted barthrough which the unslotted bar is inserted and a wedge for each slottedbar adapted to be driven through a pair of aligned perforations thereofto wedgingly engage a portion of the unslotted bar inserted through itto constrictingly clamp the mold enclosed within the device.

14. In a clamp device for molds or the like, a pair of clamp units, eachunit comprising a pair of bars pivotally connected together at one end,one of the bars being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, theunslotted bar of each unit being adapted to be inserted through aslotted bar of the other unit to entirely enclose the mold to beclamped, each of the bars being formed to provide a longitudinallydisposed series of spaced staggered abutments, and a wedge adapted to bewedgingly driven between an abutment of each unslotted bar and a portionof the slotted bar and a wedge adapted to be wedgingly driven between anabutment ofeach slotted bar and a portion of the unslotted bar toconstrictingly clamp the mold enclosed within the device.

15. In a clamp device for molds or the like, a pair of clamp units, eachunitcomprising a pair of bars pivotally connected together at one end,one of the bars being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, theunslotted bar of each unit being adapted to be inserted through aslotted bar of the other unit to entirely enclose the mold to beclamped, each of the bars being formed to provide a longitudinallydisposed series of spaced staggered abutments, and a Wedge adapted to bewedgingly driven between an abutment of each unslotted bar and a portionof the slotted bar and a wedge adapted to be wedgingly driven between anabutment of each'slotted bar and a portion of the unslotted bar toconstrictingly clamp the mold enclosed within the device, and theabutments of the slotted bar being disposed in aligned pairs, theabutments of each pair being on opposite sides of the slot.

16. In a clamp device for, molds or the like, a pair of clamp units,each unit comprising a pair of bars pivotally connected together a pairof wedges associated with the slotted bar and connected thereto by aflexible connection slidable longitudinally of the said slotted bar. 7

Intestimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 30th dayofOctober, 1929,

RALPH R. ROEMER.

at one end, one of the bars being provided I with a longitudinallyextending slot, the uns slotted bar of each unit being adapted to beinserted through a slotted bar ofthe other unit to entirely enclose themold to be clamped, each of the bars being formed to provide alongitudinally disposed series of spaced 1 staggered abutments, and awedge adapted to be wedgingly driven between an abutment of eachunslotted bar and a portion of the slotted bar and a wedge adapted .tobe wedgingly driven between an abutment of each slotted bar and aportion of the unslotted bar 7 to constrictingly clamp the mold enclosedwithin the device, and awedgewhen wedgingly engaging one abutment of abar being adapted to overlap the next adjacent staggered abutment ofthat bar.

17 V In a clamp device for molds or the like, a pair of clamp units,each unit comprising a pair of bars pivoted together at one end, one ofthe bars being provided with a longitudinal slot extending transverselytherethrough and each of the bars being provided with a longitudinallyranging series of wedge-receiving perforations, the unslotted bar ofeach unit being adapted to be inserted through a slotted pair of theother unit to entirely enclose the mold to be clamped, and a pair ofwedges associated with the slottedbar and connected together by aflexible connection extending through the slot."

18. In a clamp device for molds or the like,

a pair of clamp units, each unit comprising a pair of barspivoted'together at one'end, one of the bars being provided withalongitudinal slot extending "transversely therethrough and eachof thebars being provided with a longitudinally ranging series ofWedge-receiving perforations, the unslotted bar of each unit beingadapted to be inserted through a slotted pair of the other unit toentirely enclose the mold to be clamped, and

